To obtain a novel optically active alcohol which has methyl group on the asymmetric carbon, bears an alkoxy group on its chain terminal, and can realize small spontaneous polarization without trouble in its response speed and the tilt angle and is useful in the field of ferroelectric liquid crystal.
This alcohol is represented by formula I: CH3C*H (OH)(CH2)mOCnH2n+1 (m is 3-5; n is 2, 3) and R or S isomer, for example, R-(-)-5-ethoxy-penthane-2-ol. The compound of formula I is prepared by asymmetric transesterification of racemic compound of formula II: CH3CH (OH)(CH2)mOCnH2n+1 with an esterification agent such as vinyl propionate in the presence of a catalyst in which the lipase originating from Candida antarcia is immobilized to a porous acrylic resin whereby the ester product is optically dissolved into the R isomer and the S isomer.
MINETA HIROSHI
YUI TOMOYUKI
